You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!
Four rookies stepped into the Octagon in “The City of Light” last night (Sat., Sept 6, 2025) at UFC Paris inside Accor Arena in Paris, France. The newcomers went 2-2 overall, with one Heavyweight making an immediate splash in his long-awaited arrival.
Now that the dust has settled, let’s grade their respective performances below:
Ante Delija
It was a debut five years in the making, and Ante Delija didn’t waste a second of it. The Croatian heavyweight blasted Marcin Tybura in just two minutes (watch highlights), avenging a loss from a decade ago and proving he belongs among the elite right away.
Delija’s hand speed and composure stood out. He survived an early clinch, broke free, and put Tybura flat on the mat with pure power. It’s the kind of first impression that immediately makes him a factor in a wide-open division. Expect him to steal Tybura’s top 10 spot.
If you didn’t know, Delija was supposed to fight Ciryl Gane in 2020; however, PFL halted that fight as he was under contract.
For his next outing, I would like to see him fight Shamil Gaziev.
Final Grade: A+
Harry Hardwick
Talk about a nightmare debut. On just four days’ notice — and up a division — Cage Warriors champ Harry Hardwick ran into a buzzsaw in Kaue Fernandes. Brutal calf kicks left him hobbling within minutes, and the referee waved it off when Hardwick couldn’t stand after one final kick (watch highlights).
Hardwick left the cage in a wheelchair.
To be fair, short notice and the wrong weight class didn’t help, so judgment is reserved until he gets a real camp at 145 pounds. Still, tough start.
I would like to see him fight Steven Nguyen in his second UFC outing.
Final Grade: F
Robert Ruchała
Poland’s Robert Ruchala entered his UFC debut highly touted due to the work he did in KSW, one of the best promotions outside the UFC. Unfortunately, he was matched up with France’s William Gomis, who is notoriously tough to deal with and can make the fight technical and boring.
And while the fight wasn’t super boring, it was pretty forgettable.
The Polish prospect showed flashes of his KSW pedigree, but against Gomis, he looked more promising than polished. Ruchala landed a slick takedown in the second round and pressed forward with aggression, but never generated the damage or control to swing momentum.
Striking defense and cardio failed him late, and Gomis pulled away for the decision. Not a disaster, but not the debut he wanted either — he’ll need sharper cardio, a tighter defensive shell on the feet, and a greater ability to turn takedowns into fight-altering sequences.
I would like to see him fight Francis Marshall next.
Final Grade: C-
Axel Sola
Former Ares champ Axel Sola had the Paris crowd buzzing after stopping Rys McKee in Round 3 with a vicious body shot. The finish was a little controversial — McKee protested the stoppage — but Sola’s crisp boxing, left hand, and calm pressure stood out all night.
He looked massive at Welterweight and might be even scarier when he drops back down to 155. What impressed most was his composure under fire; McKee is durable and aggressive, but Sola never lost control of the pace, mixing body work and sharp counters to eventually break him down. For a debuting fighter, that kind of maturity and shot selection bodes well.
I would like to see him fight Jai Herbert
Final Grade: B
UFC Paris was a mixed bag for the debutants. Delija looked like an instant contender, while Sola flashed star potential. Ruchała has adjustments to make, and Hardwick deserves a mulligan. Either way, the Paris crowd got its money’s worth.
For complete UFC Paris results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
